The “Mission” of the Boy Scouts of America “is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” One of the Eight Methods of Scouting is the Outdoor Program, during the conduct of which resides risk to the participants, ranging from minimal to significant risk, depending on the circumstances.
But, at what point is it inappropriate or unnecessary to expose the participants to risk of any magnitude? It is certainly never of the variety of “Damn the torpedoes, Full speed ahead!” The author’s view is that it is inappropriate to expose participants to risk when it has nothing to do with the Mission of Scouting. That is, risk for the sake of risk, which may result in needless suffering.
Headquarters, Department of the Army, in its November, 2021 publication ATP 5-19 titled “Risk Management”, provides a definition of “unnecessary risk” that can be said to apply to Scouting’s outdoor program:
“ACCEPT NO UNNECESSARY RISK
1-9. An unnecessary risk is any risk that, if taken, will not contribute meaningfully to mission accomplishment or will needlessly endanger lives or resources. Army leaders accept only a level of risk in which the potential benefit outweighs the potential loss. The process of weighing risks against opportunities and benefits helps to maximize unit capability, save lives, and preserve resources.”
Scout units would be well-served to heed the above definition of unnecessary risk – i.e., risk that does not contribute meaningfully to the Mission of Scouting, or will needlessly endanger lives or resources. Remember, we are dealing with youth, both ours and those of others!
Safe Scouting!